Feb 2, 2012; Edinburgh, IN, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress poses for photos with members of the military during the NFL players visit to Camp Atterbury. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Week 2 @ Seattle

What if Felix Jones doesn’t fumble the ball on the opening kickoff? What if the punt block on the second possession doesn’t get run back for a touchdown and the Seahawks are up 10-0 early in the first quarter?

Weak 4 vs Chicago

What if Dez Bryant’s reads the defensive blitz at the end of the first half and cuts in for Romo’s pass instead of heading straight up the field? The game prior to that moment had been a defensive battle and the score was 3-0. After the pick six due to Bryant not knowing what to do, the score was 10-0, and gave the bears momentum at that point.

Week 6 @Baltimore

What if Dez Bryant catches the two point conversion to tie the game at 31-31? What if the line was able to protect Romo and Dez is able to get by his man on the play on the play run with :26 on the clock in the fourth quarter?

Week 8 @ NYG

What if Dez Bryant cuts his route sharper on the play at 9:24 of the first quarter and makes the catch, or at least causes a deflection so the ball is not intercepted? What if Miles Austin on the play at the 5:58 mark of the first quarter is at least able to deflect the ball instead of letting it get picked off?

The aforementioned plays are just a small sample of “what ifs”. Had had the individual play had a different occurrence, maybe the outcome of the game is different. The Cowboys defense has played great this year and is the strong point of this year’s team. They have lost defensive star Sean Lee and Barry Church for the year as each player has been placed on the season ending injured reserve. Jay Ratliff, Anthony Spencer, and Kenyon Coleman have all missed significant time.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, it’s been the offense that has been underwhelming this season. The offensive line has been subpar and DeMarco Murray has missed time.  However, it’s the receiving corp that has been most disappointing. Although there is talent there, it just hasn’t meshed and time is running out to salvage this season. With four losses already in the books, the team can only really afford to lose three more for the remainder of the season (which means finishing 6-3). Even at a total of seven losses, the playoffs aren’t guaranteed.

In Kevin Ogletree’s first game of the season he had 8 catches for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Giants. In the next six games, he has had a combined 13 catches for 134 and 0 touchdowns. He won the third receiver battle, and the Cowboys haven’t really given anyone else a shot since the season has started.  The man that Ogletree has replaced in 2012 is Laurent Robinson, who had the role in 2011. In 14 games played last season, Robinson put up the following stats:

54 receptions

858 yards

11 touchdowns

To put it lightly, Robinson has been missed. The Cowboys have been reluctant to look at any veteran receivers. The team wanted to let the young guys grow, and did not want to bring in any “drama” to the locker room with some the available personalities. They have also wanted to protect these younger players and keep away any possible negative influences these veterans could bring. Some options sitting at home waiting on a call are Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, and Plaxico Burress.

The current receiver the Cowboys most wanted to keep away from this influence is Dez Bryant. However, with Bryant in the middle of his third season, the Cowboys will need to review if they want to extend him when his contract expires and keep him as a building block and give him the huge payday he will be seeking. Bryant has all the talent and tools you would want in a receiver. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, he is still making the mistakes he made as a rookie in his third season. Problems that still exist are incorrect route running, not knowing the entire offense and the options in it, and playing way too loose with the ball.  There has been recent outside of the organization speculation that Bryant may be losing favor within the Cowboys. Critics and analysts have wondered aloud that this is who Bryant is, and who he is going to be. While he will make the spectacular play, he will also make the boneheaded play that offsets the great play he made prior.  If he is not going to be the franchise receiver for the next ten years, then the influence around Bryant isn’t so important.

I believe the Cowboys should roll the dice and bring in Plaxico Burress. Although he has been negatively portrayed in the press, I don’t think he is as self-absorbed and as bad an influence as the others mentioned. I think the head coach needs to be able to bench guys who aren’t performing up to par and send a message.  If Bryant wants to continue to not be accountable, he can sit until he can be. Although I like Miles Austin, he has just not been healthy in 2011 and 2012.  Burress is a huge target, runs good routes, and can make big plays. In 16 games 2011, Burress put up the following stats:

45 receptions

612 yards

8 touchdowns

Burress spent nearly two years in prison and was released in June 2011. He signed with the New York Jets in late July 2011. He put the stats up that season and was effective although there was no way he was in the proper condition after spending that much time away from the proper training program for an athlete at that level.  He has prepared diligently this past offseason and is said to be in great shape. He is desperate to make his mark as he knows his time in the league may be over. Of any of the guys available, I think he by far has the most left in the tank. If he gets one shot and does not perform, it could be all over for him.

The Cowboys are in the bottom half of the NFL in team red zone touchdown scores.  Their percentage is less than 48% on these opportunities. New Orleans, Green Bay, and Denver are all in the top three, with the lowest percentage of these three being 68%. If the Cowboys could improve this, the offense would get more touchdowns instead of field goals, and the margin for error would go up.

Jerry Jones has made it clear that he wanted success THIS SEASON.  While we can talk about play calling, coaching, and accountability all day long, those are changes that will only take place after it’s too late for this season. This move can be one that salvages the season, and it would be a low cost move as well. Hopefully the Cowboys can see that this need exists, and make the move. The clock is ticking, and time is running out on the 2012 season.

Follow Craig Cortemeglia on Twitter at @ccortemegliaTLH

Nov 13, 2011; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress before the game against the New England Patriots at Met Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE

It is no secret that one of the weaknesses of the Dallas Cowboys going into training camp was depth at the wide receiver position. There are also question marks over the two main wide receivers in Miles Austin and Dez Bryant.  Austin, who missed several games last year with hamstring injuries, had to sit out of training camp this week with the same hamstring issues. Dez Bryant, who can never stay out of the negative news spotlight, is probably one more arrest away from being kicked off of the team. With very young or unproven wide receivers behind them on the depth chart, Cowboys may feel they need to add one more impact veteran wide receiver. (more…)

Jan.1, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress (17) is pushed out of bounds by Miami Dolphins cornerback Sean Smith (24) during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

5. He’s Cheap

It was revealed in the last couple days that the former Super Bowl winning wideout would play for the veteran minimum.  This is great news for a team with limited cap space like the Cowboys have. This may be a sign of desperation, but that doesn’t diminish Burress’ talent level. In fact, it may have humbled him a bit and could actually be beneficial.

4. He’s not young anymore but he should be fresh

Burress will turn 35 in two days. (Any else surprised he’s that old?) But “Plax” was out of football for almost two years from late November of 2008 thru August of 2011 because of the shooting incident that landed him jail time. Therefore, his body doesn’t have the normal wear and tear a receiver of his age should have. Let’s not forget, in his first season back from his “forced layoff”, Burress had 45 receptions for 683 yards and eight touchdowns for the New York Jets. And that was with Mark Sanchez as his quarterback!

Read the top three reasons the Cowboys should sign Plaxico Burress, on the next page…